PHILADELPHIA, PA – Three Philadelphia police officers were hospitalized Saturday night after a confrontation with an armed suspect escalated into a deadly shootout in West Philadelphia.
The Initial Investigation
The incident began around 10:33 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, when officers responded to reports of a shooting near 54th and Arlington streets. Upon arrival, officers located a black Cadillac that had been struck by gunfire and began securing the area to gather evidence.
Escalation and Gunfire
As officers established the crime scene, 57-year-old Eric Franks approached the perimeter. According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, officers attempted to explain the situation to Franks, who became increasingly agitated.
The situation turned physical when Franks shoved an officer with both hands. As two officers moved in to detain him, Franks pulled out a firearm. Despite commands to drop the weapon, Franks opened fire on the four officers at the scene.
The Shootout and Casualties
All four officers returned fire, fatally striking Franks, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Three of the officers sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange:
- A 32-year-old officer was shot in the leg.
- A 31-year-old officer suffered a gunshot wound to the hand.
- A 35-year-old officer was struck in the shoulder.
All injured officers were transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where they are currently listed in stable condition. The fourth officer was uninjured but treated for evaluation.
The Philadelphia Police Department’s Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation Unit is currently leading the investigation into the incident.
